Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3786 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
Via Pexels
It can be alarming to finish having sex and find you are bleeding. Seeing blood after intercourse refers to having vaginal bleeding during or just after sexual intercourse when you're not menstruating. This type of bleeding happens most often in women between the ages of 20 and 40. Vaginal bleeding after sex is not something to take lightly. There is a laundry list of possible causes. Here’s a rundown of some of the reasons for vaginal bleeding after sex.
A woman’s cervix, the narrow, lower end of the uterus, is usually the source of bleeding brought on by vaginal sex. This can be particularly true before menopause. If the cells of your cervix become inflamed or otherwise abnormal, sexual intercourse can cause enough friction to cause bleeding.
A woman may have suffered injuries to the vaginal wall or opening to the vagina during intercourse. Sometimes oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy can lead to bleeding after sex. Lowered estrogen levels in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women may cause the lining of the vagina to become thinned and easily inflamed or infected. These changes can be tied in with vaginal bleeding after intercourse.
Bleeding after vaginal sex may be an initial indication of endometrial or cervical cancer. However, more than likely, the cause is due to another condition. Sometimes the cause cannot be determined, but it's very important to be diagnosed by a physician to rule out cancer or any other diseases. Bleeding after vaginal sex is not normal, but in most cases, it's the result of harmless, treatable cervical changes, not cancer.
Sexually transmitted diseases or infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia can be a cause of vaginal bleeding after intercourse. Inflammation or swelling and infection of the vagina or cervix such as vaginitis or cervicitis can also bring about after-sex bleeding.
Another possible cause for bleeding after vaginal sex may be pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Uterine fibroid tumors or polyps on the cervix or vaginal wall may also lead to vaginal bleeding during or after intercourse. Women with uterine polyps are known to experience vaginal bleeding after sex. Keep in mind these tumors are usually benign and rarely malignant.
Anytime you experience bleeding during or after vaginal sex when you are not menstruating, it's important to visit your doctor or health care provider to determine the cause. Getting an accurate diagnosis is critical. Even if the bleeding is due to something minor, it’s most likely treatable and better for your peace of mind.
Sources:
About.com Health’s Disease and Condition
MayoClinic.com
WebMD.com
MedicineNet.com
Add a Comment34 Comments
Where to start....
Okay well, when I have sex with my boyfriend. Which isn't regularly. It is neither rough or fast. But it seems that every time lately there is some blood afterwards. The last time there was more than usual.
My last period was last month. (I had bleeding after sex before and after this)
Well I have started what I think is my period now. I'm probably on day 3/5 now I think. And I am not bleeding as usual. It is much much lighter than usual. Not much red at all, the odd little dot or so. And only a few streaks on brown on my pad when I go to the bathroom. The most I have wiped was brownish and a few bits of red.
My usual period would be like a tablespoon of blood on the pad and quite a bit when I wipe too. It has always been like this. I am also having bad stomach cramps. Which I never had before. My usual period would be the kind where I would feel the blood pooling on the pad or coming out of me when I stand up after sitting or move in a certain way. I have had 2 children but my period has always been the same. My eldest is 13 months old. I have had my period back for quite awhile and it was normal when I got it again. It has probably only been the last 4/5 periods where I have had cramps. And this is the 1st period since I was 7 that it is not bleeding how it usually does.
I'd say how it has started and still is. Is like the old blood that comes out at the end of your period.
January 31, 2016 - 1:20amThis Comment
Hi i want to ask an advice coz when we had sex i do bleed and its not my period yet .... What should i do?
January 17, 2016 - 6:26pmThis Comment
It would be nice if the article had causes for bleeding after sex for the woman who has had a hysterectomy. I'm not quite as scared now, but still pretty scared.
January 6, 2016 - 7:20pmThis Comment
I had my period twice this month now. Something I was also worried about by the way. This period recently ended. Me and fiancé had sex and I bled quite a bit. It wasn't painful at all and wasn't that rough. It was faster pace than normal though. I've also noticed when I go to the bathroom it looks like almost chunks of blood are going in the toilet. These chunks have been happening for 4 days since the end of my period. Also it smells really bad down there and it's been that way for weeks. Why is there so much going on?
December 21, 2015 - 7:40pmThis Comment
I bleed for 3 -5 days after sex everytime. Before I had my baby it was just a light bleed and wanst accompanied by much pain, now however I however I struggle with moderate to bad pelvic pain everyday, even while not on my period, I have heavy vaginal bleeding after sex and its always accompanied by bad back pain. I have also experienced two periods in one month for the first time ever this month. I am not pregnant as I have been tested multiple times. I have beeb diagnosed with endometriosis, so Im not sure if this is the cause though. I do not have medical aid and state docters do npt tell me much as they treat me like I do not know or understand my body. Do you think I ahould dock up the money and go see a private doctor?
December 10, 2015 - 11:31amThis Comment
I bleed after sex 90% of the time. It's because I like it rough. It has always happened with rough sex for me since the first time I've engaged in intercourse. My pap is clean. The only advice I've gotten from doctors is "tell him not to do it so hard" or "try a different position". I don't think there is any help for it. I am 4' 9" so I believe it must just be a condition I'll have to deal with because of my physicality.
August 30, 2015 - 12:50amThis Comment
I had my period 2 weeks ago and after sex I've been bleeding for three days now and its heavy..what should I do??
August 20, 2015 - 5:10pmThis Comment
Hi.
August 7, 2015 - 1:30amI've recently had a lot of pelvic came that comes in waves. I also get pain during sexual arousal and after sex but not during. & its pelvic pain, never vaginal pain. (Unless I have a UTI; ugh! Lol)
Anyway, I've also noticed that the last two times my fiancé and I have had sex, there's a enough blood to be seen when I wipe after but it's light & it never gets on him. I'm not pregnant as I've had 4 pregnancy tests done by the doctor since we've been trying to figure out the pelvic pain. The bleeding just started, though. I'm not on my period. I've actually only had one period once since June & it was two and a half weeks long. I'm at a loss & while I wait for the doctor's next steps; I was wondering if you had any possibilities that it may be? I know you're not a doctor but you definitely seem a lot more educated than I am about this. I am 19, btw. My fiancé and I have been together for 4 years so I'm not worried about STDs or PID. I also get tested every year with OBGYN just as a check up. I have not had one this year because she just moved and I have to find a new OBGYN. However; I'm not worried about it being anything sexually related.
Thank you.
Have a great day.
This Comment
I had a hysterectomy almost two years ago and everything went perfectly.
August 6, 2015 - 11:52amI was left with one ovary and my cervix only. However, now I bleed after
every time I have sex. Should I be worried? I'm married with only him as a
sexual partner so I know it's not an STD.
This Comment
after i had sex i had a bleed for almost 3 days.. it is normal to bleed?? My first sexual eperience is when i was 19 yrs old after i did not repeat it again.. now im 26 yrs old i sex with my bf then after we had a sex i bleed for almost 3 days is that normal thanx
July 17, 2015 - 9:12pmThis Comment